Never in the eight-decade history of the NFL had any team put on a triple-threat return display like Minnesota did yesterday. The Vikings became the first team ever to return a punt, kickoff and interception for touchdowns in the same game, turning Giants Stadium into their own personal special teams practice.

Even then, it wasn’t until kicker Paul Edinger – who’d missed field goal attempts of 32-yards and 40-yards – nailed a clutch 48-yard field goal with just 10 seconds left that the Vikings pulled out a 24-21 escape against the Giants.

“Special teams was very explosive. We talked [Saturday] night and in the morning about being explosive. We wanted to win the battle of special teams. I think we did that,” said Viking coach Mike Tice. The Bay Shore, L.I., native getting wiped out on a return and suffering a sprained and torn MCL was the worst news in a great afternoon for Minnesota’s special teams.

“It was a big win,” Edinger said. “I struggled early, but I was able to pull through with the big kick when we really needed it.”

Safety Darren Sharper’s 92-yard first-quarter interception return, Koren Robinson’s 86-yard kickoff return to open the second half, and Mewelde Moore’s 71-yard punt return were the only three TDs Minnesota got – or needed.

“On the interception return, we usually run a cover-two in the red zone, but me and [cornerback Brian Williams] switched up. That allowed me to be aggressive,” Sharper said. “I saw a three-step drop by Eli [Manning] and took off. He threw it and I was happy I held on to it, and there was just clear sailing.”

There was little to foreshadow this performance. The Vikings came in a sad 28th in kick returns, and with the loss of quarterback Daunte Culpepper and the Love Boat scandal, little had gone right for this club. But yesterday, nearly everything did.

Robinson, picked up after the Seahawks gave up on him in the wake of alcohol abuse, opened the second half with an 86-yard kickoff return, running untouched down the sideline to give the Vikings a 14-6 lead.

Then Moore – the tailback forced out of the lineup by a wrist injury and into his first extended return duty since high school – hit the hole hard, broke an arm tackle and cut inside for a 71-yard return and a 21-13 lead with 5:27 left in the third. After the Giants scored on a Tiki Barber run and sent Barber into the end zone for the two-point conversion to tie it at 21-21 with 1:21 left, the stage was set for Edinger’s game-winner.

“Paul Wall. He’s the people’s champ,” Moore said. “He comes out and does everything. Credit to him for sticking in there and coming out with the big hit.”